Flash unit with indexible socket

ABSTRACT

The subject invention provides a flash unit whose housing accommodates an indexible socket for releaseably receiving and retaining a Flashcube or the like. The socket is indexible within the housing to place the individual flash lamps into an optimum position for the illumination of a subject. The indexing mechanism is manually actuated and is so designed that an indication will be provided after the first fired flash lamp has been placed at its initial index position and means are provided for preventing further indexing of the Flashcube. Additionally, the flash unit is self-contained and incorporates its own power supply.

0 United States Patent 1151 3,692,991 Morse 1451 Sept. 19, 1972 [54]FLASH UNIT WITH INDEXIBLE 3,497,863 2/1970 Horton et al ..240/1.3 X

SOCKET FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: John B. Morse,Cambridge, Mass.

1,490,898 6/1967 France ..240/ 1.3 [73] Assignee: Polaroid Corporation,Cambridge,

Mass- Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince 22 F] d: AssistantExaminer-Joseph W. Roskos 1 1970 Attorney-Brown & Mikulka, William D.Roberson [21] Appl. No.: 101,337 and Michael Bard [52] US. Cl. .240/1.3,95/11 R [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 15/03 The. subject inventionprovides a flash unit whose [58] Field of Search ..240/1.3, 37, 37.1;95/11 R housing accommodates an indexible socket for releaseablyreceiving and retaining a Flashcube or the 5 References Cited like. Thesocket is indexible within the housing to place the individual flashlamps into an optimum posi- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion for theillumination of a subject. The indexing mechanism is manually actuatedand is so designed g et R that an indication will be provided after thefirst fired oigtlander ..95/11 R 3 473 454 10/1969 St tz t al 240/37 1 xflash lamp has been placed at its 1n1t1a] index posltlon 3353463 11 1967e 240 X and means are provided for preventing further index- 67 $1967 a]1 X ing of the Flashcube. Additionally, the flash unit is t l 3,354,30011/1967 Parsons et al ..240/1.3 Self contamed and momma es own powersupp y 3,369,468 2/1968 Sapp, Jr. et al. ..240/ 1.3 X 37 Claims, 5Drawing Figures mi N, V

PATENT ED 3,692,991

SHEET 1 BF 5 INVENTOR.

JOHN B. MORSE 6/zam% M464 ATTOR/VEXS PATENTEDSEP 19 I972 SHEET 2 0F 5FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

JOHN B. MORSE fi dm and WM and WM ATTORNEYS PATENTED SEP 19 I972 SHEET 30F 5 ml- In m m/ m m 8 U" W 7 P J hWH INVENTOR. JOHN B. MORSE m WM ATTOR/VEYS PATENTEDSEP 19 m2 saw u or 5 Will.

INVENTOR.

JOHN B. MORSE BYE a 4 TTURNE r PATENTEDSEP 19 1912 SHEET 5 [IF 5 R mwlmm ,m

FLASH UNIT WITH INDEXIBLE SOCKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Flash unitsfor use with photographic cameras and employing Flashcubes are nowwell-known. By turning the Flashcube container through angles of 90, theuser can place successive flash lamps in an optimum position for makingflash exposures. Typically, the Flashcube may be attached directly tothe body of the camera and the latter accommodates all the electricalcomponents of the flash unit, such as a battery and a capacitor, as wellas a mechanism for indexing the Flashcube to a series of differentangular positions.

It is also known to provide a flash unit, utilizing Flashcubes as thesource of illumination, which is constructed and assembled in such a waythat it may be readily utilized in conjunction with cameras which arenot equipped with a built-in battery and which need not be provided withautomatic or semi-automatic indexing means for changing the angularposition bf the Flashcubes.

The present invention, while seeking to provide a self-contained flashunit for attachment to a camera, provides a much-improved self-containedflash unit employing novel features heretofore unavailable.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flashunit which is constructed and assembled in such a way that it isself-contained and may be readily utilized in conjunction with cameraswhich are not equipped with a built-in battery and which need not beprovided with automatic or semi-automatic indexing means for changingthe angular position of a Flashcube or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a self-containedmanually indexible flash unit attachment for a camera.

A further object of the subject invention is to provide a simple andefficient self-contained flash unit attachment for a camera, which unitis adapted to releaseably secure a Flashcube or the like such that thesame may be manually indexed.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide aself-contained flash unit attachment for a camera, having means formanually indexing a flash lamp array or the like and further includingmeans for indicating to the user when the first used flash lamp has beenplaced in its initial firing position.

Yet a still further object of the present invention is to provide anovel flash unit attachment for a camera employing means for manuallyindexing a flash lamp array or the like and means for disabling saidmanual indexing means after the last unused flash lamp of said Flashcubehas been suitably positioned and fired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The subject invention provides a novel flashunit for attachment to a camera wherein the flash unit is selfcontained,i.e., it contains its own power supply. The flash unit is provided witha housing which accommodates an indexible socket. Further, the novelflash unit includes a clutch assembly which is engaged when a Flashcubeor the like is inserted into the socket and the entire socket and clutchassembly is rotated against a spring by means of an arm-driven pawl andratchet assembly.

Movement of the arm and pawl through a predetermined arc will rotate theFlashcube a predetermined amount and the Flashcube will be urged intoand held in a precisely predetermined position by virtue of an indexingspring. Each time the Flashcube is indexed, the arm and its associatedpawl return to the initial position with the exception that when thefirst used flash lamp is brought into its initial firing position, thearm and pawl do not return, indicating to the user that all the flashlamps of the Flashcube have been fired. When the flashcube is withdrawnfrom the unit, the clutch is disengaged and the spring is allowed tounwind so that the arm may return to the initial position and theprocess may be repeated upon insertion of a new Flashcube into thesocket, as aforesaid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and many of the attendantadvantages of the present invention will be better appreciated and saidinvention will become clearly understood with reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the instantinvention, wherein:

FIG. 1 provides a simplified perspective of the subject inventionincluding a Flashcube releaseably secured therein;

FIG. 2 provides a simplified perspective of a portion of the flash unitof FIG. 1 partly in section;

FIG. 3 provides an exploded perspective of a portion of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 2',

FIG. 4 provides an exploded perspective of an alternate embodiment ofthat portion of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 provides a simplified cross-section of the flash unit of FIG. 1with a portion of the Flashcube shown in phantom, upward of the flashunit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings in moredetail and, more particularly to FIG. I, the novel flash unit is showngenerally at 2 and, apart from the novel indexing mechanism to bedescribed infra, said flash unit 2 includes other novel features morefully described in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 58 ofcopending US. Patent Application, Ser. No. l0l,336 filed Dec. 24, 1970,and commonly assigned herewith (case 4159).

The flash unit 2 includes a housing shown generally at 4 which includesa forward portion 6, having a window 8, for the transmission ofillumination from one of the lamps of a Flashcube 10, or other flashlamp array, to a selected subject. The Flashcube 10 is disposedgenerally centrally within the housing 4 so as to achieve a compact andpleasing design such as taught in more detail in copending US.Application Ser. No. 26,626 filed Dec. 24, 1970, and commonly assignedherewith (Case 4220).

The housing 4 further includes a rear portion 12 and a base portion 14.The rear portion 12 includes a removable cover assembly 16 whichfunctions to conceal and provide access to a power supply for theFlashcube 10 such as a common battery power supply.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the novel Flashcube indexing mechanism isillustrated generally at 18,

disposed within the base portion 14 of the flash unit 2. The Flashcubeindexing mechanism 18 is provided with a generally cylindrical lowerhousing portion 20 and a mating cover housing portion 22. The lowerhousing portion 20 includes a cylindrical opening 24, which extendscentrally and axially therethrough, and first and second cylindricalfaces 26 and 28, respectively, which are concentric with each other andwith the cylindrical opening 24.

A driven clutch member 30 is rotatably disposed between the lowerhousing portion 20 and the mating cover housing portion 22, coaxiallytherewith, and includes an opening centrally therethrough defining acylindrical inner surface 32. The inner surface 32 is provided withequi-annularly spaced axially extending splines 33 which function in amanner described, infra.

A spring motor 34 is disposed between the lower housing portion 20 andthe mating cover housing portion 22 coaxial therewith, and with one endof said spring motor 34 fixed to the cylindrical face 28 and the otherend of said spring motor 34 fixed to the driven clutch member 30.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the indexing mechanism 18 includes asocket assembly 36 and a retaining unit 38 extending axiallytherethrough. The socket assembly 36 and the retaining unit 38 arerotatablysecured within the base portion 14 of the flash unit 2 coaxialwith the housing portion 20.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the Flashcube is provided with a plug assembly40 having a depending spindle 42 and said spindle 42 is provided with aplurality of radially extending lugs 44. The socket assembly 36 isprovided with an opening generally centrally therethrough of suitableshape to receive the depending spindle 42, of the plug assembly 40, andengage the lugs 44, whereby there will be no relative rotation betweenthe socket assembly 36 and the Flashcube l0.

The periphery of the socket assembly 36 extends axially from an uppercylindrical portion 46 to a ratchet portion 48, next to a generallysquare-shape cam surface 50, next to a plurality of equi-annularly'spaced, radially extending cars 52, forming a ratchet, next to acylindrical portion 54 and, thence, to a cylindrical portion 56 ofreduced diameter.

An arm 58 in the form of a plate havinga cylindrical opening 60therethrough is interposed between the socket assembly 36 and the coverhousing portion 22, whereby the cylindrical portion 56 is receivedwithin the opening 60 such that the arm 58 is pivotally supported on thesurface of the cylindrical portion 56. A U-shape indexing spring 62 isdisposed within the base portion 14 above the cover housing portion 22with its leg portions 64 and 66 engaging diametrically opposite faces ofthe square-shape cam surface 50. The closed end of the U-shape spring 62is provided with an indented portion 68 which is adapted to engage apost 70 fixedly secured within the base portion 14, as to the coverhousing portion 22, whereby the U-shape spring 62 will be prevented fromrotating with the socket assembly 36 within said base portion 14.

A compression spring 72 is supported by the lower housing portion andextends coaxially through the driven clutch member 30. A driving clutchmember 74 is interposed between the arm 58 and the driven clutch member30 coaxial with the lower housing portion 20 and is resilientlysupported and upwardly urged by the compression spring 72.

The driving clutch member 74 comprises a generally cylindrical bodyportion 76 having a plurality of equiannularly spaced lugs 78 extendingradially outward therefrom and a pair of spaced legs 80 extendingaxially upward through the opening 60 and slideably engaging a pair ofkeyways 82 in opposite faces of the retaining unit 38 whereby saiddriving clutch member 74 may slideably move axially against theresilient force exerted thereon by the compression spring 72.

The arm 58 includes a handle portion 84, a depending tab portion 86, acantilevered pawl portion 88, and is biased in a counterclockwisedirection by means of a tension spring secured at one end to said coverhousing portion 22 and at its other end to a point on said arm 58eccentric of the center of rotation thereof.

The lower housing portion 20 is provided with a lug 92 extendingradially inward from the first cylindrical face 26 and adapted to engagea corresponding lug 94 extending radially outward of the periphery ofthe lower portion of the driven clutch member 30. 34 The upper face ofthe driven clutch member 30 is provided with a lug 96 which is adaptedto engage the tab 86 of the arm 58 in a manner to be described in moredetail, infra. A second pawl 98 is secured within the base portion 14 ofthe housing 4, as to cover housing portion 22, and engages the ratchetportion 48 of the socket assembly 36 so as to prevent counterclockwiserotation of said socket assembly 36.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the housing 4 is provided with a slot 100whereby the handle portion 84 of the arm 58 may extend outward of thehousing 4 so as to be readily accessible to the user. The slot 100 is ofsuch length as to predetermine the arc of travel of the arm 58. Also, itshould be noted that the spring motor 34 is preloaded to bias the drivenclutch member 30 in a counterclockwise direction to bring the lug 94into abutment with the lug 92 so as to establish an initial referenceposition for the lug 96 with respect to the tab 86.

Considering the operation of the novel indexing mechanism 18 in moredetail and with particular reference to FIG. 5, it should be perceivedthat insertion of the Flashcube 10 into the unit 2 (as illustrated inFIG. 1) will cause the radially extending lugs 44, and the dependingspindle 42, of the plug assembly 40 to engage the uppermost faces of thespaced legs 80 whereby the driving clutch member 74 will be drivendownward against the compression spring 72 and the equi-annularly spacedlug portions 78 will slide between the splines 33 on the cylindricalinner surface 32 of the driven clutch member 30. The legs 80, however,will remain engaged with the retaining unit 38, via the keyways 82,thereby preventing relative rotation between the socket assembly 36 and,hence, the Flashcube l0 and the driving clutch member 74.

If the handle 84 is now advanced in a clockwise direction, thecantilevered pawl 88 will come into abutment with one of the radiallyextending cars 52 causing the socket assembly 36 to begin clockwiserotation against the resilient force exerted by the spring legs 64 and66, of the U-shape indexing spring 62, as such legs 64 and 66 are drivenapart by the square-shape cam surface 50. At this time, the U-shapespring 62 will be restrained from rotation with the socket assembly 36by the post 70, in abutment with the indented portion 68 as mentionedhereinabove.

Continued clockwise advancement of the handle 84 and the arm 58 willcause continued clockwise advancement of the socket assembly 36 and,hence, the Flashcube 10, causing the clutch member 74, via the lugs 78and the splines 33, to advance the driven clutch member 30 against thespring motor 34. It should be noted at this point that the ears 52 arespaced 90 apart and that the pawl 88 is so disposed that advancement ofthe arm 58 via the handle 84, an angular distance approximating 90, willcause the socket assembly 36 and the Flashcube to index 90 to the nextquadrant, thereby presenting a new flash lamp at the window 8 of theflash unit 2.

The U-shape spring 62 functions to ensure that the socket assembly 36and the Flashcube l0 advance neither more nor less than a full quadrantwhen the arm 58 is advanced past a predetermined point. Morespecifically, the resilient force exerted on the cam surface 50 by thespring legs 64 and 66 will provide a torque tending to advance thesocket assembly 36 to the next quadrant after same has been indexed pasta predetermined point such as, for example, 60.

After the arm 58 has completed its first full clockwise advance, it willbe returned to its initial position by the torque exerted thereon by thetension spring 90. The pawl 88 is designed to resiliently bend about itsjuncture with the arm 58 whereby it may clear the preceding ear 52 assaid arm 58 returns to its initial position.

Each time the handle 84 and the arm 58 are completely advanced in aclockwise direction, the lug 96 will be indexed 90 degrees with thedriven clutch member 30 and the socket assembly 36. The lug 96 is sopositioned on the upper surface of the driven clutch member 30 that oncompletion of the third consecutive advance of the handle 84 and the arm58, the lug 96 will engage the dependent tab 86. At this time, thefourth and last of the flash lamps of the Flashcube 10 will be presentedto the window 8. After thy handle 84 is next advanced, it will bestopped from returning to its initial position by virtue of the abutmentbetween the lug 96 and the tab 86. Thus, the user will have a visualindication that the last flash lamp has been reached and he will knowthat subsequent photoflash lamp illumination will require the insertionof a new Flashcube 10 into the socket assembly 36.

After the ignition of the last of the flash lamps of the Flashcube 10,the user will withdraw said Flashcube 10 from the flash unit 2 wherebythe compression spring 72 will drive the clutch member 74 axially upwardand without the driven clutch member 30 whereupon the spring motor 34will drive the clutch member 30 in a counterclockwise direction untilthe lug 94 engages the lug 92. Counterclockwise rotation of the drivenclutch member 30 will carry with it the lug 96 disengaging same from thetab 86 and permitting the handle 84 and arm 58 to return once again totheir initial or starting position. At this time, a new Flashcube 10 maybe inserted into the socket assembly 36 and the entire procedurerepeated.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of a portion of theinvention illustrated in FIG. 3 is shown generally at 102. Theembodiment of FIG. 4 is essentially similar to that of FIG. 3 with theexception that the lug 94 and, of course, its mating lug 92, FIG. 2,have been eliminated, as has the second pawl 98 and two of theequi-annularly spaced lug portions 78.

The lug 96, on the driven clutch member 30, has been replaced with anaxially extending annular ridge 96 having planar end faces 104 and 106,respectively. The annular ridge 96' is so positioned on the uppersurface of the driven clutch member 30, that prior to the insertion of aFlashcube 10 into the socket assembly 36, and with the handle 84 fullyretracted by the tension spring 90, the end face 106 of the annularridge 96' will abut the tab 86. The annular ridge 96 extendsapproximately angular degrees and, hence, the end face 104 willinitially be positioned 90 in advance of the tab 86 (in a manneranalogous to the positioning of the lug 96 with respect to the tab 86 inthe embodiment of FIG. 3).

With the invention configured in accordance with the embodiment of FIG.4, the operation is analogous to that with the embodiment of FIG. 3. Byway of example, insertion of the Flashcube 10 into the socket assembly36 will cause the driving clutch member 74 to extend downward againstthe spring 72 until the equiannularly spaced lugs 78 are receivedbetween the splines 33. Note should be taken that the spring motor 34(FIG. 5) is pretensioned to bias the driven clutch member 30counterclockwise, but, as mentioned supra, the face 106 is initially inabutment with the lug 86 so that the lugs 78 will fit loosely betweenthe splines 33, allowing a predetermined amount of play therebetween. I

When the handle 84 is advanced in a clockwise direction, thecantilevered pawl 88 will engage one of the radially extending ears 52,rotating the socket assembly 36 in a clockwise direction and causing thetwo lugs 78 to come into abutment with the diametrally opposed splines33, thereby driving the driven clutch member 30 against the spring motor34.

As the handle 84 continues in its advance, the resilient force exertedon the cam surface 50 by the spring legs 64 and 66, will initiallyprovide a torque tending to oppose clockwise motion of the handle 84,but, after said handle 84 has passed a predetermined position, e.g., anadvance of 60 angular degrees, the torque exerted by the spring legs 64and 66 will tend to oppose that exerted by the spring motor 94 andpropel the socket assembly 96 and the Flashcube 10 into the next indexposition. Thereafter, the handle 84 may be released and the tensionspring 90 will return said handle 84 to its initial position in abutmentwith the housing 4.

After the handle 84 is returned to its initial position, the springmotor 34 will tend to drive the driven clutch member 30 counterclockwiseand, hence exert a counterclockwise torque on the socket assembly 36,via the driving clutch member 74. The counterclockwise torque exerted onthe socket assembly 36 will be opposed by a clockwise torque exerted onsaid socket assembly 36 by the U-shape indexing spring 62, via the camsurface 50. By suitably pretensioning the U-shape spring 62, asufficient holding force will be provided to maintain the position ofthe socket assembly 36 and, hence, the Flashcube 10, against thecounterclockwise torque generated by the spring motor 34.

After the handle 84 has been successively advanced a total of threetimes, the face 106 will have been advanced a total of approximately270. Inasmuch as the face 104 leads the face 106 by approximately 90,said face 104 will now be in abutment with the tab 86. Thereafter, thenext successive advance of the handle 84 will cause the face 104 toadvance therewith so that upon release of the handle 84, he tensionspring 90 will exert a counterclockwise torque on the arm 58 which, inturn, will transmit same through the driven clutch member 30, via theface 104 of the annular ridge 96'. The spring motor 34 will now be fullywound and it, too, will exert a counterclockwise torque on the drivenclutch member 30 which, in turn, will exert the combinedcounterclockwise torques onto the socket assembly 36 via the drivingclutch member 74.

The U-shape indexing spring 62 must be pretensioned an amount sufficientto overcome the maximum counterclockwise torque exerted by the tensionspring 90 and the spring motor 34 and, when so pretensioned, obviatesthe necessity of the second pawl 98 and the ratchet portion 48. In theembodiment of FIG. 4, however, the ratchet portion 48 has not beenremoved for ease of illustration. Indeed, it may be found expedient inthe manufacturing process to provide the socket assembly 36 with such aratchet portion 48 so that such socket assembly 36 mightbe used inconjunction with the embodiments illustrated in either FIG. 3 or FIG. 4

Inasmuch as the second pawl 98 is no longer present in the embodiment ofFIG. 4, it is clear that even with the Flashcube remaining inserted inthe socket assembly 36, the handle 84 may be manually returned to itsinitial position in abutment with the housing 4 to provide for ease ofstorage, etc. As with the embodiment of FIG. 3, removal of the Flashcube10 from the socket assembly 36 will cause the spring 72 to urge thedriving clutch member 74 upward so as to disengage the lugs 78 from thesplines 33, thereby permitting the spring motor 34 to return the drivenclutch member 30 so its initial position with the face 106 of the ridge96' in engagement with the tab 86 of the arm 58.

It can readily be seen that many variations and modifications of thepresent invention are possible in the light of the aforementionedteachings, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes in form and arrangement of components may be made tosuit requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of theappended claims, the instant invention may be practised in a mannerotherwise than is specifically described herein.

What is claimed is:

l. A flash unit for use with a photographic camera, including:

means for releasably receiving and securing a multiflash lamp array;

means for manually indexing said receiving means for moving said arraybetween successive positions; and

means for automatically returning said manual indexing means to apredetermined initial position upon removal of said multi-flash lamparray from said receiving means.

2. The invention as set out in claim 1, wherein said returning meansincludes a rotatable first clutch member and a second clutch memberconnected to said manual indexing means so as to index therewith andadapted to engage said first clutch member upon insertion of said arrayinto said receiving means.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said flash unit includes a housingand said manual indexing means includes an arm extending outward of saidhousing and biased toward said initial position.

4. The invention as described in claim 3, wherein said flash unitincludes means for releasably securing said arm at a position remotefrom said initial position when said array has been indexed apredetermined amount.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said automatic returningmeans includes spring means interposed between said first and secondclutch members and biased to oppose engagement of said clutch members.

6. Means for indexing a multi-flash lamp array so as to successivelyposition the lamps thereof for the illumination of subject, including:

a housing;

means connected to said housing for releaseably receiving and securingsaid array;

means for establishing a reference position;

means, initially engaging said reference position establishing means andsaid receiving means, for effecting and summing the successivepositioning of said array; and

means for automatically positioning said effecting and summing means atsaid reference position upon release of said array.

7. The invention as set forth in claim 6, wherein said automaticpositioning means includes a spring motor adapted to be wound by saideffecting and summing means upon successive positioning of said lamps.

8. The invention as set out in claim 7, wherein said effecting andsumming means includes a spring-loaded clutch adapted to engage saidarray and to be actuated thereby upon insertion of said array into saidreceiving means.

9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein said effecting andsumming means includes an arm or the like operatively connected to saidclutch whereby said arm will retain a predetermined position indicativeof a predetermined number of successive positionings of said array.

10. The invention as delineated in claim 9, further including means,operatively connected to said effecting and summing means, forreleaseably securing said receiving means at each of said successiveindex positions and cooperable with said effecting and summing means forurging said array into said successive index positions.

11. A flash unit for use with photographic cameras, including:

housing means having a window; means disposed within said housing forreleaseably receiving and securing a multi-flash lamp array; means formanually indexing said flash lamp array to position successive lamps ofsaid array adjacent said window; and means connected to said manualindexing means for summing the successive positionings of said array.

12. The invention according to claim 11, further including means forestablishing an initial reference position for said receiving andsecuring means with respect to said housing.

13. The invention as set forth in claim 12, wherein said manual indexingmeans includes an arm or the like, said receiving and securing means isindexible with said array with respect to said reference position, andsaid summing means includes means movable with said receiving andsecuring means and adapted to engage said arm and releaseably retainsame at a predetermined position extending outward of said housing whensaid array has been successively indexed a predetermined number oftimes.

14. A flash unit for use with photographic cameras, including:

housing means having a window;

means disposed within said housing for releaseably receiving andsecuring a multi-flash lamp array;

means, including an arm initially positioned adjacent one side of saidhousing, for manually indexing said array to position successive lampsthereof adjacent said window; and

means indexible with said array and adapted to engage said arm after apredetermined number of successive indexings of said array andreleaseably retain said arm at a position extending outward of said sideof said housing.

15. A flash unit for use with photographic cameras,

including:

housing means having a window;

socket means in said housing for receiving a rotata ble multi-flash lamparray; I

a retaining unit for releasably securing a portion of said array withinsaid socket means;

means for manually indexing said array and socket means to positionsuccessive lamps of said array adjacent said window;

a first clutch member rotatably disposed within said housing;

a second clutch member for engaging said first clutch member inslideable engagement with said retaining unit and extendingpartiallywithin said socket means an amount sufficient to engage atleast a portion of said array; said first and second clutch membersbeing configured to prevent relative rotation therebetween upon mutualengagement; and

means for engaging and disengaging said first and second clutch membersupon insertion and removal, respectively, of said array with respect tosaid socket means.

16. The invention as stated in claim 15, further including means forindicating indexing of said array a predetermined amount.

17. The invention as set out in claim 16, further including means forautomatically advancing said socket means to a predetermined indexposition and securing same thereat upon advancement of said socket meansby said manual indexing means a predetermined amount.

18. The invention as set out in claim 17, additionally including meansfor establishing a reference for the rotational position of said socketmeans with respect to said housing means.

19. The invention as delineated in claim 18, wherein said automaticadvancing means includes an indexing spring disposed within said housingmeans and a cam surface secured to said socket means and in engagementwith said indexing spring.

20. The invention according to claim 19, wherein said flash unitincludes means for returning said first clutch member to a predeterminedreference position upon disengagement of said second clutch membertherefrom.

21. The invention as recited in claim 20, wherein said clutch engagingand disengaging means includes a compression spring disposed within saidhousing beneath clutch member and about said retaining unit.

22. The invention according to claim 21, wherein said first clutchmember returning means includes a spring motor; a projection extendingfrom said first clutch member; an arm pivotally secured partially withinsaid housing and adapted to abut said housing; and a tab extending fromsaid arm and adapted to engage said projection whereby said spring motormay drive said first clutch member causing said arm to come intoabutment with said housing.

23. The invention as related in claim 21, wherein said first clutchmember returning means includes a spring motor, a first lug secured tosaid housing, and a second lug secured to said first clutch member andadapted to engage said first lug.

24. The invention as described in claim 22, further including means forallowing said socket to index in one direction while preventing suchindexing in the opposite direction.

25. The invention of clam 24, wherein said manually indexing meansincludes an arm disposed partially within said housing and pivotableabout an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of said socket means.

26. The invention as related in claim 25, further including means forbiasing said arm in a direction opposite to that in which said socketmeans is indexed.

27. The invention according to claim 25, wherein said socket meansincludes ratchet means secured thereto and said arm is connected to apawl adapted to engage said ratchet means and index said socket meansupon advancement of said arm in a predetermined direction 28. Theinvention as stated in claim 27, wherein said pawl is cantilevered tosaid arm and is is adapted to bend outward of said ratchet means andslide past same upon advancement of said arm in a direction opposite tosaid predetermined direction.

29. The invention as set out in claim 28, wherein said indexing springis adapted to exert a restraining torque upon said socket meanssufficient to overcome any torque exerted on said socket means by saidspring motor and said arm biasing means.

30. The invention as set forth in claim 29, wherein said arm biasingmeans include a tension spring con nected between said am and saidhousing.

31. The invention according to claim 30, wherein said arm biasing meansis adapted to return said arm to an initial position absent an externaldriving force applied to said arm.

32. The invention as related in claim 31 wherein said tab depends fromsaid arm and is adapted to engage said log or the like extending outwardof said first clutch member.

33. The invention as delineated in claim 32, wherein said tab is sopositioned on said arm and said outward extending lug or the like is soplaced on said first clutch member that indexing said socket means apredetermined number of times will cause said outward extending lug orthe like to engage said tab and prevnt said arm from returning to saidinitial position.

34. The invention as stated in claim 33, wherein said first clutchmember includes a cylindrical opening centrally therethrough having aplurality of annularly spaced axially extending splines about theperiphery thereof and said second clutch member includes a generallycircular portion having a plurality of radially extending ears adaptedto be received between and engage said splines.

35. The invention as delineated in claim 16, wherein said means forindicating indexing of said array a predetermined amount includes a lugor the like extending outward of said first clutch member and a tabextending from said manual indexing means and adapted to engage saidoutward extending lug, or the like.

36. The invention as set forth in claim 35, wherein said lug or the likecomprises an annularly extending projection having two end faces, one ofwhich initially engages said tab and the other of which engages said tabafter first clutch member has indexed a predeter mined amount.

37. The invention as et forth in claim 36, wherein said lug or the likeextends annularly approximately

1. A flash unit for use with a photographic camera, including: means forreleasably receiving and securing a multi-flash lamp array; means formanually indexing said receiving means for moving said array betweensuccessive positions; and means for automatically returning said manualindexing means to a predetermined initial position upon removal of saidmultiflash lamp array from said receiving means.
 2. The invention as setout in claim 1, wherein said returning means includes a rotatable firstclutch member and a second clutch member connected to said manualindexing means so as to index therewith and adapted to engage said firstclutch member upon insertion of said array into said receiving means. 3.The invention of claim 2, wherein said flash unit includes a housing andsaid manual indexing means includes an arm extending outward of saidhousing and biased toward said initial position.
 4. The invention asdescribed in claim 3, wherein said flash unit includes means forreleasably securing said arm at a position remote from said initialposition when said array has been indexed a predetermined amount.
 5. Theinvention according to claim 4, wherein said automatic returning meansincludes spring means interposed between said first and second clutchmembers and biased to oppose engagement of said clutch members.
 6. Meansfor indexing a multi-flash lamp array so as to successively position thelamps thereof for the illumination of subject, including: a housing;means connected to said housing for releaseably receiving and securingsaid array; means for establishing a reference position; means,initially engaging said reference position establishing means and saidreceiving means, for effecting and summing the successive positioning ofsaid array; and means for automatically positioning said effecting andsumming means at said reference position upon release of said array. 7.The invention as set forth in claim 6, wherein said automaticpositioning means includes a spring motor adapted to be wound by saideffecting and summing means upon successive positioning of said lamps.8. The invention as set out in claim 7, wherein said effecting andsumming means includes a spring-loaded clutch adapted to engage saidarray and to be actuated thereby upon insertion of said array into saidreceiving means.
 9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein saideffecting and summing means includes an arm or the like operativelyconnected to said clutch whereby said arm will retain a predeterminedposition indicative of a predetermined number of successive positioningsof said array.
 10. The invention as delineated in claim 9, furtherincluding means, operatively connected to said effecting and summingmeans, for releaseably securing said receiving means at each of saidsuccessive index positions and cooperable with said effecting andsumming means for urging said array into said successive indexpositions.
 11. A flash unit for use with photographic cameras,including: housing means having a window; means disposed within saidhousing for releaseably receiving and securing a multi-flash lamp array;means for manually indexing said flash lamp array to position successivelamps of said array adjacent said window; and means connected to saidmanual indexing means for summing the successive positionings of saidarray.
 12. The invention according to claim 11, further including meansfor establishing an initial reference position for said receiving andsecuring means with respect to said housing.
 13. The invention as setforth in claim 12, wherein said manual indexing means includes an arm orthe like, said receiving and securing means is indexible with said arraywith respect to said reference position, and said summing means includesmeans movable with said receiving and securing means and adapted toengage said arm And releaseably retain same at a predetermined positionextending outward of said housing when said array has been successivelyindexed a predetermined number of times.
 14. A flash unit for use withphotographic cameras, including: housing means having a window; meansdisposed within said housing for releaseably receiving and securing amulti-flash lamp array; means, including an arm initially positionedadjacent one side of said housing, for manually indexing said array toposition successive lamps thereof adjacent said window; and meansindexible with said array and adapted to engage said arm after apredetermined number of successive indexings of said array andreleaseably retain said arm at a position extending outward of said sideof said housing.
 15. A flash unit for use with photographic cameras,including: housing means having a window; socket means in said housingfor receiving a rotatable multi-flash lamp array; a retaining unit forreleasably securing a portion of said array within said socket means;means for manually indexing said array and socket means to positionsuccessive lamps of said array adjacent said window; a first clutchmember rotatably disposed within said housing; a second clutch memberfor engaging said first clutch member in slideable engagement with saidretaining unit and extending partially within said socket means anamount sufficient to engage at least a portion of said array; said firstand second clutch members being configured to prevent relative rotationtherebetween upon mutual engagement; and means for engaging anddisengaging said first and second clutch members upon insertion andremoval, respectively, of said array with respect to said socket means.16. The invention as stated in claim 15, further including means forindicating indexing of said array a predetermined amount.
 17. Theinvention as set out in claim 16, further including means forautomatically advancing said socket means to a predetermined indexposition and securing same thereat upon advancement of said socket meansby said manual indexing means a predetermined amount.
 18. The inventionas set out in claim 17, additionally including means for establishing areference for the rotational position of said socket means with respectto said housing means.
 19. The invention as delineated in claim 18,wherein said automatic advancing means includes an indexing springdisposed within said housing means and a cam surface secured to saidsocket means and in engagement with said indexing spring.
 20. Theinvention according to claim 19, wherein said flash unit includes meansfor returning said first clutch member to a predetermined referenceposition upon disengagement of said second clutch member therefrom. 21.The invention as recited in claim 20, wherein said clutch engaging anddisengaging means includes a compression spring disposed within saidhousing beneath clutch member and about said retaining unit.
 22. Theinvention according to claim 21, wherein said first clutch memberreturning means includes a spring motor; a projection extending fromsaid first clutch member; an arm pivotally secured partially within saidhousing and adapted to abut said housing; and a tab extending from saidarm and adapted to engage said projection whereby said spring motor maydrive said first clutch member causing said arm to come into abutmentwith said housing.
 23. The invention as related in claim 21, whereinsaid first clutch member returning means includes a spring motor, afirst lug secured to said housing, and a second lug secured to saidfirst clutch member and adapted to engage said first lug.
 24. Theinvention as described in claim 22, further including means for allowingsaid socket to index in one direction while preventing such indexing inthe opposite direction.
 25. The invention of clam 24, wherein saidmanually indexing means includes an arm disposed partially within saidhousing aNd pivotable about an axis coincident with the axis of rotationof said socket means.
 26. The invention as related in claim 25, furtherincluding means for biasing said arm in a direction opposite to that inwhich said socket means is indexed.
 27. The invention according to claim25, wherein said socket means includes ratchet means secured thereto andsaid arm is connected to a pawl adapted to engage said ratchet means andindex said socket means upon advancement of said arm in a predetermineddirection
 28. The invention as stated in claim 27, wherein said pawl iscantilevered to said arm and is is adapted to bend outward of saidratchet means and slide past same upon advancement of said arm in adirection opposite to said predetermined direction.
 29. The invention asset out in claim 28, wherein said indexing spring is adapted to exert arestraining torque upon said socket means sufficient to overcome anytorque exerted on said socket means by said spring motor and said armbiasing means.
 30. The invention as set forth in claim 29, wherein saidarm biasing means include a tension spring connected between said armand said housing.
 31. The invention according to claim 30, wherein saidarm biasing means is adapted to return said arm to an initial positionabsent an external driving force applied to said arm.
 32. The inventionas related in claim 31, wherein said tab depends from said arm and isadapted to engage said log or the like extending outward of said firstclutch member.
 33. The invention as delineated in claim 32, wherein saidtab is so positioned on said arm and said outward extending lug or thelike is so placed on said first clutch member that indexing said socketmeans a predetermined number of times will cause said outward extendinglug or the like to engage said tab and prevnt said arm from returning tosaid initial position.
 34. The invention as stated in claim 33, whereinsaid first clutch member includes a cylindrical opening centrallytherethrough having a plurality of annularly spaced axially extendingsplines about the periphery thereof and said second clutch memberincludes a generally circular portion having a plurality of radiallyextending ears adapted to be received between and engage said splines.35. The invention as delineated in claim 16, wherein said means forindicating indexing of said array a predetermined amount includes a lugor the like extending outward of said first clutch member and a tabextending from said manual indexing means and adapted to engage saidoutward extending lug, or the like.
 36. The invention as set forth inclaim 35, wherein said lug or the like comprises an annularly extendingprojection having two end faces, one of which initially engages said taband the other of which engages said tab after first clutch member hasindexed a predetermined amount.
 37. The invention as et forth in claim36, wherein said lug or the like extends annularly approximately 90* .